Maple syrup meth bust: Former school prefect’s fall from grace as he’s jailed for ‘important’ role

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Motivated by a potential $600,000 pay out a man who had been living in Australia travelled across the ditch to be part of receiving a shipment of 713kg of methamphetamine hidden in maple syrup bottles.

The former Kelston Boys’ High School prefect and head librarian, Andy Tuumaga had had a successful career in marketing and events travelling the world.

But Justice Gerard van Bohemen said Tuumaga’s “fall from grace was a single episode in two trips to New Zealand”.

On Tuesday, the 47-year-old was sentenced to 17 years and six months’ imprisonment for his part in importing between 550 and 560kg of the methamphetamine shipment and having possession of the Class A drug for supply.

On January 13, 2023, Tuumaga arrived in Auckland from Melbourne. The very next day 18 pallets containing maple syrup bottles arrived from Canada containing nearly three quarters of a tonne of hidden methamphetamine.

Customs intercepted the drugs but a controlled delivery was made to an address in Helensville on February 8.

Tuumaga told a report writer he was set to receive $600,000 for his role and had travelled to New Zealand to take delivery of the methamphetamine and to provide it to an individual before returning to Australia.

He also had responsibility for handling the funds and training others on how to do money drops.

The wider shipment was bound for the Australasian market with authorities in New Zealand, Australia and Canada working together to uncover the drug smuggling.

Detective Superintendent Greg Williams previously said the joint operation prevented $800 million of social harm.

The investigation was launched in Australia after Canadian authorities found a suspicious shipment of 18 pallets of canola oil destined for Melbourne.

Three tonnes of meth was uncovered and arrests where made in Melbourne.

What was Andy Tuumaga’s role?

Tuumaga was supported in court at his sentencing by numerous family members and his partner.

The court heard he had lived in New Zealand until he was five when he moved to San Francisco with his uncle. He moved back to Auckland when he was 10 and was a prefect and had success at Kelston Boys’ High School.

He moved to Australia when he was 18 and went on to have a successful career in marketing events worldwide and co-owned a night club.

Tuumaga had helped after the Brisbane floods, the measles outbreak in Samoa and created a safe place for Pacifica men who had experienced abuse, the court heard.

The Crown agreed with the defence Tuumaga should receive discounts for his previous good character and genuine remorse.

But Tuumaga’s exact role was in dispute by his lawyers and the Crown.

His lawyers Marie Dyhrberg KC and James Olsen, said he wasn’t a manager but had the role of a “trusted lieutenant” and didn’t direct others in terms of the import and supply.

But Dyhrberg accepted he directed others in terms of “money drops”.

But prosecutors Kristy Li and Kasey Nihill said at the time this was the biggest importation of methamphetamine into New Zealand.

Li said Tuumaga’s role was to travel to New Zealand for the purpose of receiving the drugs.

“He had a responsibility to direct others in a very crucial part of the operation,” Li said.

She went on to say Tuumaga had direct contact with those above him throughout the process in what was a “highly sophisticated” drug syndicate.

Justice van Bohemen said while Tuumaga’s role was important and he had awareness of the scale of the operation, it was not a leading role meaning the starting point of the sentence was not life imprisonment.

But he accepted Tuumaga was financially motivated.

The judge also refused to impose a minimum term of imprisonment given his low risk of reoffending.